Umbrella



Feb. 28, 1956 CORNELLIER 2,736,329

UMBRELLA Filed June 22, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l Maurice H. Cornell/er INVENTOR.

BY WW Feb. 28, 1956 Filed June 22, 1955 M. H. CORNELLIER 2,736,329

UMBRELLA 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 26 24 /2 Fig. 4

Maurice H. Cornell/er INVENTOR.

United States Patent UMBRELLA Maurice Cornellier, Dearborn, Mich.

Application June 22, 1953, Serial No. 363,082

2 Claims. (Cl. 13520) The present invention relates to umbrellas and more particularly relates to a collapsible umbrella of the type wherein the canopy is opened by inflation thereof and collapsed by the release of inflating fluid from the canopy.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an inflatable and collapsible umbrella that does not require a folding frame of resilient or rigid bars or the like and wherein the umbrella canopy comprises a self-sustaining inflatable member. A most important object of the invention is to provide a novel staff and handle assembly for an inflatable umbrella canopy whereby the stafi constitutes a pump cylinder for directing the air or other inflating fluid into the canopy and the handle constitutes a pump actuating means for forcing air through the pump cylinder as well as constituting a container for the staff and canopy when the umbrella is collapsed.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel coupling connection between the staff and canopy to permit the inflation of the canopy through the staff, which coupling is extremely small and unobtrusive eliminating the necessity for a bulky air chamber arrangement adjacent the apex of the canopy.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel staff and handle connection whereby these elements may be locked against movement with respect to one another and including an invertible connection whereby the staff may be disposed within the handle in one position and project upwardly from the handle in another position.

, A final object of the invention to be mentioned specifically is the provision of a novel pump arrangement for inflating the umbrella canopy which is extremely simple in construction and compact in its arrangement as well as a means for preventing inversion of the canopy due to the action of the wind when in its inflated condition.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which is shown, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the umbrella in its open position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the staff and handle of the umbrella in cross section and disclosing the connection of the staff to the canopy;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the canopy in collapsed position on the umbrella staff with only a portion of the canopy being shown for clarity of illustration;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the umbrella handle with the collapsed canopy and the staff being disposed within the container;

Figure 5 is a top enlarged detailed view of the connection of the canopy to the umbrella staff;

2,736,329 Patented Feb. 28, 1956 Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along section line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view disclosing the mounting of the pump piston within the stalf; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view of the connection of the statf to the pump plunger for locking them against movement relative to one another.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, like reference numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the various views.

In the drawings, the umbrella is designated in its entirety by the numeral 10 and comprises generally an inflatable canopy 12, staif 14 and handle 16. The canopy 12 comprises generally a circular, inflatable, hollow support structure 18 having radial ribs 20 originating at the central portion or apex of the canopy. The ribs 20 are likewise hollow and inflatable as is the outer circle 18. A second reenforcing inflatable tube 22 interconnects the ribs 20 to one another intermediate their ends and is disposed concentrically with respect to the marginal circular tube 18. A suitable covering fabric 24 completes the canopy.

A flange coupling 26 mounted on the central portion or apex of the canopy 12 connects the same to the umbrella staff 14.

Noting particularly Figures 5 and 6, it will be seen that the ribs 20 are secured between the top and bottom flanges 28 and 30 of the flange coupling 26. The ribs 20 terminate at their inner ends at the apex of the canopy in circumferentially spaced relation to one another and the flanges 28 and 30 are provided with a central chamber 32 into which the ribs 20' open. A downwardly opening bore 34 communicates the lower flange 30 and the air chamber 32 with the upper end of the tubular staif 14. To provide the connection from the bottom or lower flange 30 of the coupling 26 through the tubular stalf 14, a tubular projection or boss 36 is provided on the under surface of the flange 30 so that the upper end of the staif 14 may be and is suitably threaded thereinto. A suitable check'valve 38 allows air to enter the chamber 32 and consequently the ribs 20 from the tubular shaft or staff 14 but prevents the return of air from the ribs 20 through the staff 14. As will be noted in Figure 6 particularly, this check valve is provided at the opening of the chamber 32 into the staff 14.

Reciprocally disposed within the tubular stalf 14 as shown in Figure 7 is a suitable upwardly opening cup shaped piston 40 which may be of leather or other suitable flexible material. The piston 40 is upwardly opening so that upon downward movement of the piston within the staff 14, air will be permitted to enter the space in the staif above the piston whereas upon upward motion of the piston, the cup will expand to prevent the escape of air entrapped in the upper portion of the staff by the downward movement of the piston. The piston 40 is secured by means of a suitable fastener 42 to the upper end of a plunger or plunger rod 44. This plunger rod 44 is of course disposed concentrically within the staif 14 for a longitudinally reciprocal movement Within the staff 14. The lower end of the plunger 44 projects outwardly from the lower end of the tubular staff 14 in such a manner that the stop 46 is closely adjacent the lower end of the staff 14 when the piston 40 is adjacent the upper end of stalf 14.

A cap 48 is secured in a suitable manner to the lower end stop 46 of the plunger 44. As shown clearly in Figure 8, the cap constitutes a disc shaped top having a peripheral threaded flange 50. This cap 48 is fitted onto the handle 16 in a manner to be immediately described.

The handle 16 comprises a hollow cylindrical tube having a closed bottom 52 and an open top. The upper end of the cylinder 16 is internally threaded so that the cap. 48 may he..screw.ed. .thereinto. forming. a .closure for the top of the handle and as a means for mounting the staff 14 on the handle. As thus far described, the connection of the staff 14 and the handle 16 permits movement of the staff with respect to the handle Whereas the plunger 44 will move with movement of the handle 16. Thus, upon longitudinal reciprocation of the staff-with respect to the handle or vice versa, air is pumped through the staff which in effect forms a pump cylinder into the inflatable tubular support of the canopy to inflate the same into a disk as shown in Figure 1.

To prevent-over inflationof the canopy and to permit release of the air fromthe same, the marginal tube 18 of the canopy is provided with a suitable escape valve 54 which, althoughnot shown, may be of the spring urged ball type that-will automatically open upon a predetermined air pressure within the canopy.

To prevent inversion of the canopy during inflation or due to Wind action, a sliding ring 56-is mounted on the outer surface of the staif 14 for sliding movement therealong and flexible elements or cables 58 connect the marginal edgesof the canopy 12 to the sliding ring 56. Stop 69 is formed on the upper portion of the stafi 14 to limit the upwardsliding movement of the ring 56 as the canopy is expanded or opened. The movement of the ring 56 is shown most clearly from a comparison of Figures 2 and 3 wherein the canopy is shown in its open position and its collapsed position respectively.

When the canopy is raised and the umbrella then ready for use, the staff 14 may be locked to the plunger 44 and consequently the handle 16.

Referring particularly to Figure 8, the cooperating means for lockingthe staff 14 and the plunger 44 to one another is most clearlyshown. The lower end of the staff 14 is provided with a downwardly opening bayonet slot 62 while the portion of the plunger 44 immediately above the cap 48 is provided with outwardly projecting radial lugs or arms 64 which seat in the bayonet slot 62 inthe usual manner. Thus, when the canopy is open the handle 16 may be locked to the staff 14 and the umbrella then isready for use.

When the air is permitted to'escape through the check valve 54 from the canopy 12, then the umbrella is collapsed, the handle 16 serves as a convenient carrier and casing for the umbrella. Upon collapse of the umbrella as shown in Figure 3, the cap 48 is unscrewed from the top ofthe handle 16 and inverted so that the staif 14 is disposed within-the handle 16 as well as the collapsed canopy 12; then, the cap 48 is again screwed into the top ofthe handle 16 .to provide a convenientcanrying case for the umbrella until its subsequent use.

Since from the foregoing the construction and operation of the invention are believed to be readily apparent, further description is deemed unnecessary. However, since numerous qualifications and changes Will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a careful perusal of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described. But, all suitable modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A collapsible umbrella comprising a tubular staff, a plunger having a piston mounted at one end thereof for reciprocation in said staff, an inflatable canopy, a flanged coupling connecting said canopy to one end of said staff, said coupling having an air passage extending therethrough and communicating the interior of said infiatable canopy with the interior of said staff, a suction closed valve in said flanged coupling and with said staff, plunger and piston forming a pump for inflating said canopy, a cap secured to the end of said plunger opposite to said piston, a hollow handle, means on said cap for removably securing said plunger to said handle with the plunger and staff protruding coaxially therefrom and selectively to said handle with said plunger, staff and canopy within said hollow handle for storage, a locking device for releasably securing said staff to said plunger to prevent relative movement therebetween, a sliding ring on said staff, flexible members secured to said ring and to the outer edge of said canopy to prevent inversion of said canopy, a stop carried by said staff for limiting the movement of said ring on said staff in one direction, and means in said canopy to relieve the air therefrom.

2. The umbrella of claim 1 together with a stop secured to said plunger and located within said staff for limiting the movement of said plunger in one direction with respect to said staif.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,397,789 Stonestreet Nov. 22, 1921- 1,41.1,560 Beaty Apr. 4, 1922 1,444,017 Waschek Feb. 6, 1923 2,172,549 Solomon Sept. 12, 1939 2,625,946 Keaston Jan. 20. 1953 

